The global success of artists from the small Ikuntji community's pioneering Aboriginal arts centre has been celebrated at the inaugural 2025 Northern Territory Export and Business Awards in Darwin.

From humble beginnings, Ikuntji Artists won the event's inaugural First Nations Export Award for its extensive and expansive work sharing Ikuntji art and wearable art to the world.

It was one of the first Indigenous art centres in the Western Desert, and the first art started by women in the Western Desert Art Movement, after some local aged care facility residents began painting together in the 1980s at their Haasts Bluff abode, 230km west of Alice Springs.

This year the arts centre was one of just 10 Australian businesses - and the only Indigenous one - selected for the 2025 World Expo, one of the oldest and biggest international trade events, held every five years since 1851, with the traditional stories and substantive works of Ikuntji Artists shared with the anticipated 28 million people to the Osaka showcase, including 3.5 million international visitors.

The expo features 161 countries and is a unique opportunity for businesses such as Ikuntji to form partnerships, collaborate and innovate and reach other essential services and requirements for international success.

Programs and projects at Ikuntji are driven by donations to the art centre and its group of artists. The member-based, not for profit organisation - which has seven board directors who are Indigenous and live among the 150-odd residents of Haasts Bluff - was recently a 2025 Australian Small Business Champion finalist.

Artists are continually in collaborative cohesion with each other and community on projects, some on learning and celebrating culture, knowledge transfer systems and mentoring, while the expansive mediums of art making - notably Ikuntji designs and screen printing - are always a focus.

The origin of the Ikuntji female artists began with their husbands and fathers, who instructed and assisted in their artistry and completing works. By the early 1990s, the women decided to pursue establishing an art centre in the small town.

Artists have in recent years explored fabric design and printing.

A screen-printing project launched in 2016 featured Ikuntji Artists translating paintings into textile designs, and their resulting collection of evocative prints saw them become the first Central Desert arts centre to release its own textile range.

Designs often represent intergenerational art and expression - from senior and established artists to emerging ones - inspiration drawn from personal ngurra (Country) and Tjukurrpa (Dreaming), with the sandhills, waterholes, jagged mountains and sandy plains of Central Australia's West Macdonnell Ranges.

An Australian Council for the Arts grant has helped Ikuntji Artists since 2017 engage and research Luritja Collections in museums, galleries and collection across Australia and Europe.

Another arts centre project which connects artists with objects of their Ikuntji ancestors that are held in collections around the world led to a myriad projects, including but not limited to The Desart Symposium 2020 and 'The Story Necklace' exhibition at the South Australian Museum.

Since the 2020s, Ikuntji has invested in research, including the history of its community, re-writing biographies of artists in their own voices, and tracing the history of the local art movement, a multimedia project the Indigenous Language and Arets funded that featured interviews, written biographies, films in language and photography.

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation was also recognised at the Darwin event, winning the Excellence in Business category (NFP).

The Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce's annual awards recognise the strength, depth and diversity of NT enterprises from everywhere including Central Australia, Barkly, East Arnhem, Katherine, Greater Darwin, and Big Rivers and officially supported by the NT Government.

The inaugural 2025 Export & Business Awards combined the NT's most respected recognition platforms: the long-standing Export Awards, and the well-established Business Excellence and Outstanding Customer Service Awards, which have celebrated the annual best in NT enterprise for several years, from individuals, local businesses, start-ups, and international exporters across a range of industries.

Chamber NT president Natasha Griggs said 2025 was a huge event as it was the first combined celebration of the Territory's export and boarder business sectors.

"We also extend our sincere appreciation to the many sponsors whose generous support has enabled the successful delivery of both the regional events and the NT finals," she said.

"Your contribution represents a meaningful investment in the Territory's business community and reflects a strong commitment to giving back and fostering long-term success."

Chamber NT CEO Glen Hingley said small and medium sized businesses were the lifeblood of cities, towns, reginal and remote communities across the Territory.

"Our businesses are more than key economic contributors; they are strengthening communities through essential products and services that meet local needs and reach global markets," he said

"Consistently showing up every day, rolling up their sleeves to serve our communities and make someone's life better requires tremendous resilience and commitment."

The inaugural awards event was complemented by a renowned and independent panel of judges who evaluated 275 high-quality submissions.

See the work of Ikuntji Artists here.

2025 NT Export & Business winners

Export - First Nations: Ikuntji Artists

Excellence in Business - Not for Profit: Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation

Excellence in Business - Corporate Social Responsibility: Darwin Youth Services

Excellence in Business - Manufacturing & Marine Industries - Small Business: NORSTA North

Excellence in Business - Manufacturing & Marine Industries - Medium & Large Business: NT Link

Excellence in Business - Logistics and Supply Chain: Nighthawk Transport

Excellence in Business - Best Community Event or Business Collaboration: The Alice Springs Show

Excellence in Business - Business Events and/or Trade Delegations: Alice Springs Convention Centre

Excellence in Business - Outstanding New Start-Up: Evora Care

Overall Northern Territory Winners

Northern Territory Customer Service Business of the Year: Poké Ola

Northern Territory Business of the Year: Coleman's Ink, More Than Print

Chief Minister's Northern Territory Exporter of the Year: Brindle Films